All Summer Long
Chapter 20: Just Say Yes
Thanks again for the reviews you guys! Hope you like this chapter.
Also, *waves at Beccy* thanks for the review! Long time no speak, dude!
Nate was surprised by how desperate he was to see Jessica again. His feelings for Sam Nixon had started as a slow burn and had progressed but with Jessica things just seemed to have burst into flames. It wasn't a one way street the way it had been with Sam either, it was Jessica who had initiated their holiday romance and she seemed as crazy about him as he was about her.
After he had called her earlier in the day, Jessica had agreed to meet him at the resort for dinner and drinks. It was their second date in as many days and they were both looking forward to it.
Nate took her to one of the quieter restaurants at the resort, away from where most of his colleagues would be spending the evening. On a second date, Nate would normally have preferred somewhere noisier and filled with people, but with Jessica it was different. He found it easy to talk to her and she was an attentive listener. The fact that he was a copper didn't seem to bother Jessica, which was often a turn off with other women he met.
It seemed perfectly natural to hold her hand during dinner and, when he led her back to his room, Nate wondered if it was possible to feel this much for someone so quickly.
Diane spent the evening alone in her newly allocated room. She occupied herself by flicking through the extensive list of channels but couldn't seem to settle on one. Nikki had obviously been hurt when she had packed up and moved out of their shared room. This only added to the guilt she was already feeling. Callum had tried to talk to her; to get her to spend the evening with him but she wasn't ready for that. As difficult as it was, she just needed to be alone with her thoughts for a while.
During dinner Andrea was dismayed to see Gina and Gil making their way over to her and Neil's table in the crowded restaurant.
"You don't mind if we sit here with you, do you?" Gina asked, taking the seat beside Andrea before the words had left her lips.
Andrea glared daggers at Neil but he was oblivious. "Of course, go ahead. It's pretty busy in here tonight."
Dinner passed more pleasantly than Andrea could have wished for until they decided to round off the meal with coffee. As Andrea sipped at her Americano she became aware of Gil studying her over the rim of his cappuccino cup.
"You look so very familiar," He finally said, surprising Gina in the process. "I've finally figured out where I know you from. I was a photo-journalist at the same paper you used to write for."
There was a tense silence as Gina paled, but it was broken as Neil set his cup down abruptly and loudly on his saucer. Andrea had known it was only a matter of time.
Jo walked into the club, scanning around for Millie but finding the woman she had found her dancing with the night before instead. Taking a deep breath, Jo decided to approach her.
"Hi, I'm Jo. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Definitely, a white wine and soda please. I'm Francesca."
They drank and danced and talked together until Jo spotted Millie approaching them. There was definitely a spark of jealousy in the younger woman's eyes. Jo held eye contact with her but put her hand on Francesca's arm at the same time. Oh yes, she thought, two could play at this game.
Kerry stumbled a little drunkenly in her high heels, almost knocking a bottle of beer out of Antonio's hand in the process.
"Oh, sorry!" She giggled covering her mouth with her hand. She had almost lost count of the amount of vodka cranberries she had drunk but it did help to dull her pain and confusion about Smithy.
"No worries, baby." Antonio said in his thick accent, which a lot of women would find sexy. Unfortunately Kerry was included in this majority. "Can I get you a drink?"
The rest of the night passed in strange snatches for Kerry and she doubted if she'd ever be able to remember everything that had happened. When she woke up beside Antonio in the morning, both of their clothes missing and a banging headache at her temples, the guilt Kerry felt was almost unbearable. What would she tell Smithy?
"I had a really great day with you, today." Phil said as they walked slowly back from the restaurant. Their day together had stretched into the evening too.
"Me too." Sam smiled. It was true, she had had a really good time and she didn't want the day to end. She had definitely misjudged Phil and his feelings for her. Mentally weighing up the pros and cons, Sam took a deep breath. "Would you like to come back to my room with me?"
"Are you sure?" Phil asked, surprising Sam once more.
"I'm sure." She grinned, taking his hand and tugging him towards her room. Giving a relationship between them a trial shot had been one of her best ideas.
Towards midnight the wine bar began to quieten down a little and most of the occupants were from Sun Hill. Honey and Dan sat wrapped in each other's arms, trying to avoid Kayla or Zain's glasses. Zain was drinking beer but Kayla was sipping from a glass of pineapple juice.
Handing over some money to the barman, Stuart requested that he play a particular song. As the chords of Snow Patrol's most recent hit started up, he turned to Libby. Pulling a small green velvet box from his trouser pocket, and knelt at her feet.
"Libby, my love, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"
Libby stared open mouthed, unsure whether to laugh or cry as he gaze moved from Stuart, to the simple gold and diamond ring and back to him again.
"I...I don't know."
"Just say yes!" Kayla shouted from behind them, unable to keep a grin from her own face. Libby wasn't sure it was as simple as that though.
More soon! Please review on your way out!
